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The local real estate market, by any measure, has been on a strong bull run for well over a decade now. Not surprisingly, some people might begin to worry about the security of their real estate investments, and those of us on the front lines of selling those investments ( for the purposes of this article – all forms of real estate) ought to be confident that the product we are helping our clients acquire are indeed good investments. Nobody... View Article

Steven R. Covey, in his book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” -a book first published in 1989- outlines a guide for living an effective life. He does not necessarily say an effective person, is a successful person, but most readers would reach that conclusion on their own. With apologies to Mr. Covey, I have condensed seven habits into two. Giving advice can be a dicey matter. By the very act of being willing to give it, you run... View Article

Fusion Homes unveiled their long anticipated 5 Arthur Street project on August 27th. The Metal Works‘named in honour of the heritage of the property), promises to be the most transformative mixed use development in Guelph, and a true test of whether Guelph has permanently turned its development back on green-fields, and Guelphites are ready to embrace non traditional infill developments. A project with 600 units, and not a single detached dwelling among them. The project is a reminder that single... View Article

It is often assumed that salespeople need to be good talkers, and there may be some truth to that ( although good listeners are rarer, and usually more successful ). In an industry fought with rejection and disappointment however, there is a far more vital skill required – particularly in the formative stages of an agents career. The ability to face rejection and persevere without having it affect your countenance may be the most useful attribute and precursor to a... View Article

In 1993 my wife and I moved into our current home on Guelph’s eastern border kiddy corner what was then the City of Guelph’s Landfill. It is easy today, particularly for many of the residents in Guelph’s east end who have moved to the neighbourhood after the dump was closed, to forget that the dump was a contentious and contested issue. Everyone produces garbage, yet no one seems to want to bear the responsibility of receiving someone else’s. While we... View Article

Lost in the hustle and bustle of another busy May selling season, was news that could reshape the future development of the City of Guelph. A May 14th article in the Guelph Mercury sheds light on a hoped for change in the development priority of lands yet undeveloped within the city boundary. The city’s official plan speaks to the order of development of these lands. Referring to the official plan, allows developers, home builders, land owners etc… plan... View Article

Next month marks our 7th anniversary in what I can no longer call our ‘new’ office. The decision to move out of the downtown core was not one rooted in a dislike of Guelph’s downtown- to the contrary I rather miss it at times. What I do not miss, is the parking. Parking, was in my view, an impediment to our growth, and an ongoing inconvenience to both my clients ( the agents ) and their clients alike. That,... View Article

In December of 2011, the Ontario Teacher’s Pension Fund announced that they had reached an agreement with Rogers Communications to sell its shares in MLSE – the parent company of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and Toronto FC. It was a deal that valued the company at some 2 billion dollars, and made headlines at the time not only for the size and scope of the transaction, but also for the relatively little time it took to... View Article

I remember it like it was yesterday. My career in real estate had only just begun, and I was excited to be showing a property to a young couple for the second time. It was the early 90’s, and the market could best be described as stagnant. (The notion of a form 244 had not yet been dreamt up!) Clearly, my clients loved the house, and I was certain that they were at the point... View Article

A friend of mine was recently relocated from Boston to Dallas for employment purposes. Having visited him in both locations, my observation of the difference in home prices is startling. One need only acquire a window seat in the airplane and a rudimentary understanding of the concept of supply and demand to get a general understanding of why Dallas provides far more bang for your home buying buck. Land supply in flat, sprawling Dallas is comparatively unlimited. When... View Article

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